[Summoning Beast: Hayate]
[Race: Ninja Dog]
[Talent: Speed, Sense of Smell]
[Evolvable]
[Evolution Material Requirement: Wind Bell Flower (100 Plants)]
Just as Katsumi Kei saw this screen, the mechanical voice rang out again.
[Ding!]
[Strength and Talents have been shared.]
As the voice echoed in his mind, Kei felt a warm current flood his body. His internal organs, limbs, and especially his nose pulsed with strange vitality.
Between breaths, his perception sharpened. His spirit brightened. A refreshing coolness surged to his brain.
And more—his physical strength improved. His limbs felt lighter, his stamina fuller, and even the small amount of chakra he'd refined just moments earlier increased.
It became clear: the "strength" the system referred to wasn't limited to just muscle or chakra. It encompassed his entire being—body, mind, and energy.
Kei's eyes narrowed. 'So the system really shares everything... and in return, I now have Hayate's talents.'
Speed—and an overwhelming sense of smell.
The latter nearly choked him.
He coughed and gagged for a few seconds. The world around him was suddenly layered with complex odors—tree bark, old wood, paper ink, even the faint lingering scent of the caretaker's hands from earlier that day.
After adapting, Kei exhaled and wiped his nose.
'Just the sense of smell of an ordinary dog is already several dozen times sharper than a human... and Hayate is no ordinary dog. This is practically a tactical sensor. I can track, detect, or cook like a five-star chef.'
In combat, it meant locating hidden enemies, distinguishing clones, even reading minute changes in scent during battle. In daily life? It meant precision.
Kei sat upright, curiosity burning.
He formed a seal.
Then another.
His fingers danced. One after another—sixteen hand signs in under three seconds.
That was approaching Uchiha Itachi's level—six seals per second.
While elite shinobi eventually used fewer signs to cast techniques, sometimes even none, the importance of seal speed couldn't be ignored for a beginner.
In this world, even summoned beasts could perform ninjutsu. Danzo's tapir could use Wind Style. Temari's sickle weasel used Wind Style too. Mount Myoboku's toads could use Water Style. Even tailed beasts never once needed to weave a hand sign.
'Movement speed, hand seal speed, attack speed, reaction time... all of it has improved.'
He turned to look at Hayate.
The system prompt had used the word "shared."
Which meant it wasn't just Kei who gained.
Hayate had received something as well.
Kei didn't just have physical power and chakra. He had a rare, innate talent—Intelligence.
And Hayate, now, did too.
Their eyes met.
Hayate tilted his head slightly, tail wagging with affection, but also with a certain knowing gleam.
Respect. Understanding. Loyalty.
Kei reached forward and gently patted Hayate's fluffy head.
"Good boy."
Hayate's tail wagged even faster, ears perked, tongue lolling. When Kei pulled his hand back, Hayate immediately sat back down—composed and calm.
[Summoning Beast: Hayate]
[Race: Ninja Dog]
[Talent: Speed, Sense of Smell]
[Shared Talent: Intelligence]
[Evolvable]
[Evolution Material Requirement: Wind Bell Flower (100 Plants)]
Kei examined the updated attribute page and muttered under his breath.
"Only 100 Wind Bells? That's practically nothing..."
Wind Bell Flowers were common herbs. There were plenty in the forests surrounding Konoha.
'We'll gather them tomorrow. Tonight, there's still time.'
Though late, it wasn't yet bedtime. Kei still had energy—and goals.
Like chakra refining. Or trying out ninjutsu.
The Three Body Techniques were foundational: Clone, Transformation, and Body Replacement.
He grabbed the scroll.
All three were E-rank—simple, yes, but never useless.
That was the genius of the Hidden Leaf. Basic didn't mean weak. These jutsu were versatile, fast, and low-cost. Every shinobi learned them.
Kei sat cross-legged again and resumed chakra refining.
Half an hour passed. His body began to tire, so he stopped.
He had to manage his stamina. Physical and mental energy were chakra's source—and not infinite.
By his estimate, he now had about as much chakra as a standard Genin.
That was enough to try something.
He opened the scroll again and began reading the steps.
Tonight, he'd learn the first real jutsu of his life.
(End of Chapter)